Library
Research Needs Reports 
Earthquake Resistant Design
Earthquake Resistant Design
2015
- Issues and Research Needs Identified During Development of the 2015 NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures PDF 732KB
Synopsis: As part of its efforts to regularly update the NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures, the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) is charged by FEMA to identify research needed to advance the state of the art of earthquake-resistant design and to serve as the basis for future refinement of the Provisions. During the project to generate the 2015 edition of the Provisions, the various working groups identified specific needed research that was beyond the scope of the 2015 Provisions update.
Source/sponsorship: The report was prepared for FEMA by the Provisions Update Committee of the National Institute of Building Sciences Building Seismic Safety Council.
Resource type: Report, 39 pages
Related resource: Development of NIST Measurement Science R&D Roadmap: Earthquake Risk Reduction in Buildings (NIST GCR 13-917-23) PDF 2.4MB
2011
- Research Plan for the Study of Seismic Behavior and Design of Deep, Slender Wide Flange Structural Steel Beam-Column Members (NIST GCR 11-917-13) PDF 4.5MB Editorial Revisions Only
Synopsis: This report summarizes the recommended tasks, approximate schedule, and order of magnitude budget for a multi-phase, multi-year experimental and analytical research plan investigating the behavior of deep, slender wide-flange structural steel beam-column members. Work has been split up into three primary research components related to member, subassemblage, and system studies. The term member refers to an individual beam-column element, excluding connections to other elements in a building frame. The term subassemblage refers to a combination of beam and column elements representing a portion of the building frame. The term system generally refers to the overall building frame.
Source/sponsorship: The report was produced by the NEHRP Consultants Joint Venture, a partnership of the Applied Technology Council and the Consortium of Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering.
Resource type: Report, 166 pages
2009
- Research Needs Identified During Development of the 2009 NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures PDF 219KB
Synopsis: As part of its efforts to regularly update the NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures, the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) is charged by FEMA to identify research needed to advance the state of the art of earthquake-resistant design and to serve as the basis for future refinement of the Provisions. During the project to generate the 2009 edition of the Provisions, the various working groups identified specific needed research that was beyond the scope of the 2009 Provisions update.
Source/sponsorship: The report was prepared by the BSSC, a council of the National Institute of Building Sciences, with support from FEMA.
Resource type: Report, 15 pages
Related resource: Research Needs Identified During Preparation of the 2003 Edition of the NEHRP Recommended Provisions for Seismic Regulations for New Buildings and Other Structures PDF 112KB
- Research Required to Support Full Implementation of Performance-Based Seismic Design (NIST GCR 09-917-2) PDF 595KB
Synopsis: This report identifies the research required for the nation to take full advantage of performance-based seismic design (PBSD) by describing 37 research topics in some detail. The bulk of this research is aimed at generating in-depth data about the performance, over a full range of seismic loadings, of building materials, systems, and components found in both new and older buildings. These data will serve as the basis for a library of fragilities—mathematical relationships between seismic loading and damage—that is sufficient to model most buildings in this country. A second highly critical task is to determine the performance expected from use of prescriptive code or standards requirements in designing new buildings and retrofitting existing buildings. The results of this task will not only improve the codes and standards but also will facilitate an orderly transition to wide use of PBSD in the next decade.
Source/sponsorship: The report was prepared by the BSSC, a council of the National Institute of Building Sciences.
Resource type: Report, 81 pages
2003
- The Missing
Piece: Improving Seismic Design and Construction Practices (ATC 57)
PDF 3MB
Synopsis: This report describes a proposed program of problem-focused research, technical support, and outreach designed to address a technology transfer gap within NEHRP. This gap, which limits the adaptation of basic research knowledge into practice, was first identified by representatives of the design and construction industry in the late 1990s. They recommended that NEHRP develop "a much expanded, problem-focused knowledge development, synthesis and transfer program" to improve seismic design and construction practices. The Applied Technology Council (ATC) solicited industry input on the design of this program through a workshop and issue papers. The resulting design, detailed in this report, is organized around two subject areas and five program elements. In addition to describing these elements, the report discusses personnel and budgetary requirements and other practical considerations related to program implementation.
Source/sponsorship: The report was prepared by ATC in cooperation with leading professionals from the seismic design and construction industry, who volunteered substantial time and effort to the project. Financial support was provided by NIST.
Resource type: Report, 111 pages
Related resource: Summary Overview of the Research and Development (R&D) Roadmap
Send general inquiries and all feedback to nehrp@nist.gov
